Reick Opponent Removed From Ballot Over $85 Fine
Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock)
Rep. Steve Reick (R-Woodstock), a potentially endangered House Republican, appears to have been saved from major Democratic competition after his opponent was quietly removed from the ballot over an unpaid campaign finance fine of $85.
Democrat Brian Meyers of Crystal Lake was quietly removed from the March ballot by the Illinois State Board of Elections on January 8 after the board determined he had an unpaid fine for a late campaign finance report while he was running for McHenry County Board in 2024.
State Board of Elections spokesman Matt Dieterich says Meyers filed two campaign finance reports late, one in April of 2024 and April of 2025. Candidates with existing finance violations are not eligible to run for office. Dieterich says Meyers paid the fine the day after he was removed from the ballot, which was after the final date of ballot certification for the March primary.
Reick’s 63rd District, which encompasses parts of McHenry County, was ranked sixth in our list of the ten seats most likely to flip parties in 2026. He won his race by six points in 2024, but the district has been trending more Democratic in recent years. Kamala Harris won the district by about a point in 2024. Governor Pritzker won the district by about four points in 2022.
When reached Thursday night to ask if he planned to sue to get back on the ballot, Meyers said he was planning to be slated by party leaders after the primary. But, slating is no longer allowed after a controversial 2024 law ending the practice. It was found unconstitutional for the 2024 cycle, but is in effect for races this year. Meyers did not respond when we told him about the law. It is also too late to mount a write in campaign to get on the November ballot.
We asked the House Democrat campaign organization if they planned to challenge the removal in court, but we did not hear back.
